#hongkongers — Public Fediverse posts
Live and recent posts from across the Fediverse tagged #hongkongers, aggregated by home.social.
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https://www.europesays.com/ie/425344/ Car record for mega bridge’s Hong Kong checkpoint as F&B sector feels holiday pain #Business #Central #ChingMingFestival #EasterBreak #Economy #EdwardLeungHei #Éire #HongKong #HongKongFeastAndRetreatAssociation #HongKongZhuhaiMacauBridge #Hongkongers #IE #ImmigrationDepartment #Ireland #MainlandChina #News #NorthboundVehicleScheme #scmp #teahouses
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Fact-Check | AI-generated scenes ‘from France’s 2025 Louvre heist’ circulate in Hong Kong
With the rise of social media and generative AI, how much of what we see online is true?…
#NewsBeep #News #Artsanddesign #AIForensics #ApolloGallery #Arts #ArtsAndDesign #AU #Australia #CCTV #Design #Douyin #Entertainment #facebook #Frenchjewels #HongKong #Hongkongers #LouvreMuseum #NataliaStanusch #OpenAI #Paris #post #RedNote #SCMPFact-Check
https://www.newsbeep.com/au/290309/ -
Fact-Check | AI-generated scenes ‘from France’s 2025 Louvre heist’ circulate in Hong Kong https://www.byteseu.com/1548027/ #AIForensics #ApolloGallery #cctv #Douyin #Facebook #France #FrenchJewels #HongKong #Hongkongers #LouvreMuseum #NataliaStanusch #OpenAI #paris #post #rednote #SCMPFactCheck
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https://www.alojapan.com/1412931/hongkongers-urged-to-secure-travel-insurance-as-bear-attacks-rise-in-japan-2/ Hongkongers urged to secure travel insurance as bear attacks rise in Japan #advisories #BearAttacks #EmergencyHelpService #hibernation #hongkongers #Japan #JapanTours #MedicalExpenses #scmp #SenshuPark #ShirakawaGo #tours #TravelInsurance Hongkongers visiting Japan should purchase adequate travel insurance, remain vigilant and avoid entering sealed-off areas known for bear attacks, or they may risk losing their coverage, tourism industry lead
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https://www.alojapan.com/1412931/hongkongers-urged-to-secure-travel-insurance-as-bear-attacks-rise-in-japan-2/ Hongkongers urged to secure travel insurance as bear attacks rise in Japan #advisories #BearAttacks #EmergencyHelpService #hibernation #hongkongers #Japan #JapanTours #MedicalExpenses #scmp #SenshuPark #ShirakawaGo #tours #TravelInsurance Hongkongers visiting Japan should purchase adequate travel insurance, remain vigilant and avoid entering sealed-off areas known for bear attacks, or they may risk losing their coverage, tourism industry lead
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Hongkongers find big pay cheques and cultural challenges in booming Saudi Arabia
Hongkongers lured by well-paid jobs in Saudi Arabia say the kingdom’s rapidly expanding economy remains full of promise,…
#NewsBeep #News #Economy #abudhabi #AU #Australia #Business #ChloeWong #HongKong #Hongkongers #KenMa #MichelleCheung #middleeast #Qiddiya #RiyadhAir #SaudiArabia #scmp #UK #Vision2030
https://www.newsbeep.com/au/283262/ -
Hongkongers find big pay cheques and cultural challenges in booming Saudi Arabia
Hongkongers lured by well-paid jobs in Saudi Arabia say the kingdom’s rapidly expanding economy remains full of promise,…
#NewsBeep #News #Economy #AbuDhabi #Business #CA #Canada #ChloeWong #HongKong #Hongkongers #KenMa #MichelleCheung #MiddleEast #Qiddiya #RiyadhAir #SaudiArabia #scmp #UK #Vision2030
https://www.newsbeep.com/ca/281848/ -
https://www.alojapan.com/1410560/hongkongers-urged-to-secure-travel-insurance-as-bear-attacks-rise-in-japan/ Hongkongers urged to secure travel insurance as bear attacks rise in Japan #AkitaPrefecture #autumn #BearAttacks #ChanPuiLeung #ChinaTaipingInsurance(HK) #EGLTours #EnvironmentMinistryOfJapan #Fukuoka #GifuPrefecture #hongkongers #HotSpring #Japan #JapanTours #Kyushu #Okinawa #SenshuPark #ShirakawaGo #SteveHuenKwokChuen #tours #UNESCOWorldHeritage #WongHokYuen #wwpkg #YuenChunNing Hongkongers visiting Japan should purchase adequate travel ins
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https://www.alojapan.com/1410560/hongkongers-urged-to-secure-travel-insurance-as-bear-attacks-rise-in-japan/ Hongkongers urged to secure travel insurance as bear attacks rise in Japan #AkitaPrefecture #autumn #BearAttacks #ChanPuiLeung #ChinaTaipingInsurance(HK) #EGLTours #EnvironmentMinistryOfJapan #Fukuoka #GifuPrefecture #hongkongers #HotSpring #Japan #JapanTours #Kyushu #Okinawa #SenshuPark #ShirakawaGo #SteveHuenKwokChuen #tours #UNESCOWorldHeritage #WongHokYuen #wwpkg #YuenChunNing Hongkongers visiting Japan should purchase adequate travel ins
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😶 What Happened to MIRROR Member Keung To? The Hong Kong #Singer Falls Into the Sea, Then Issues Statement Addressing Speculation & Shuts Down S-word Rumours https://www.tonboriday.com/2025/06/keung-to-falls-into-sea.html
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#HongKong: #Article23 law used to ‘normalize’ #repression one year since enactment
Just one year after its passage, Hong Kong’s Article 23 law has further squeezed people’s freedoms and enabled authorities to intensify their #crackdown on peaceful #activism in the city and beyond, #AmnestyInternational said.
" 'Over the past year, Article 23 has been used to entrench a ‘new normal’ of systematic repression of dissent, criminalizing peaceful acts in increasingly absurd ways,' said Amnesty International’s China Director Sarah Brooks.
" 'People have been targeted and harshly punished for the clothes they wear as well as the things they #say and #write, or for minor acts of #protest, intensifying the #ClimateIOfFear that already pervaded Hong Kong. #FreedomOfExpression has never been under greater attack.'
People convicted and jailed for peaceful expression"The Safeguarding National Security Ordinance (known as Article 23) took effect on 23 March 2024. Amnesty International’s analysis shows that 16 people have since been arrested for sedition under Article 23. Five of them were officially charged under the law, and the other 11 were released without charge. None of those arrested is accused of engaging in violence, while the authorities have accused two of them of #inciting violence without yet disclosing any details.
"Three of the charged individuals – after facing around three months’ pre-trial detention – were convicted for, respectively, wearing a T-shirt and #mask printed with protest slogans; #criticizing the government #online; and writing protest #slogans on bus seats. They were sentenced to between 10 and 14 months in prison.
"The remaining two charged people have been held in detention awaiting trial since November 2024 and January 2025, respectively. They are accused of publishing '#seditious' posts on social media platforms.
Article 23 entrenches denial of bail
"The presumption against bail in national security cases, originally imposed by the #Beijing-enacted #NationalSecurityLaw (#NSL), has now been extended to offences under Article 23. Among the five individuals charged under Article 23, the two who applied for bail had their applications denied because the magistrate believed they may 'continue to commit acts endangering national security' – the same reasoning used to deny bail to others prosecuted under the NSL, including newspaper founder #JimmyLai and opposition politicians.
"The remaining 11 individuals arrested under Article 23 are variously accused of publishing 'seditious' posts, commemorating the 1989 #Tiananmen crackdown and spreading 'disinformation'. Despite having been released by the police without official charge, they remain at risk of prosecution at any time because Article 23 does not impose a time limit on bringing criminal charges.
" 'Article 23 has been wielded by the Hong Kong government as a tool to suppress critical voices with the ultimate aim of eradicating them. Alongside the #NSL, it has handed the authorities virtually unchecked power to arrest and jail anybody criticizing the government. The result is a Hong Kong where people are forced to second-guess what they say and write, and even what they wear,' Sarah Brooks said.
" 'The now default use of pre-trial #detention and refusal of bail are alarming examples of how Article 23 has been used to reinforce the repressive tools first introduced under the NSL.”
‘#NationalSecurity’ as a trump card overriding established laws"Article 23 has also been weaponized to impose additional punitive measures against dissidents already serving sentences. Under the existing Prison Rules, last amended in 2014, prisoners with good conduct were eligible for early release after serving two-thirds of their sentences. However, according to new rules set by Article 23, the prison authorities can waive this practice if the release would be 'contrary to the interests of national security'.
"Notably, at least two jailed activists have been denied early release, despite the fact that they were not convicted under Article 23 and had already begun serving their sentences before its enactment.
"One of the activists – who was convicted of incitement to wound, a charge unrelated to any national security legislation – was barred from early release despite Article 23 expressly stating that the new rules apply only to prisoners convicted of offences endangering national security.
" '#Retroactively denying early release based on vague national security justifications undermines legal certainty and due process. The government’s failure to comply with the very text that it drafted further raises serious concerns about the arbitrary application of Article 23,' Sarah Brooks said.
Extraterritorial application against #overseas #activists"The worrying impact of Article 23 on human rights is not restricted to Hong Kong. Authorities have invoked Article 23’s extraterritorial scope to penalize a total of 13 Hong Kong activists residing overseas, including in the #UK, the #US, #Canada and #Australia. These penalties have included the cancellation of passports, suspension of lawyer licenses, removal from company directorships and prohibition of financial transactions, restricting a range of #HumanRights such as their freedom of movement, right to privacy and right to work.
"These measures have been imposed alongside arrest warrants issued under the NSL, each carrying a HK$1 million (US$128,700) bounty, for these 13 individuals and six other overseas activists.
" 'By sanctioning activists overseas, the Hong Kong government is attempting to extend its #DraconianLaws beyond its borders to target potentially anyone, anywhere. The situation has resulted in a chilling effect on individuals who persist in exercising their freedom of expression, even after departing from the city. The international community cannot afford to ignore Article 23’s intended extraterritorial reach,' Sarah Brooks said.
" 'We urge the Hong Kong and Chinese governments to immediately repeal Article 23, the NSL and any other legislation which violates international human rights laws and standards. We also call on other governments to safeguard the fundamental rights and freedoms of #Hongkongers, in particular those actively defending human rights, within their jurisdictions.
" 'The rising risk of transnational repression, which Amnesty has documented and which is explicitly tied to Hong Kong’s national security legislation, demands a response by governments worldwide. As a start, that means denouncing incidents of transnational repression and pursuing accountability for criminal acts targeting activists and others in the country of residence.'
Background
"On 19 March 2024, Hong Kong’s Legislative Council unanimously voted to pass the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance based on Article 23 of the Basic Law, Hong Kong’s mini-constitution.
"The law, which took effect on 23 March 2024, introduced China’s definition of 'national security' and 'state secrets', together with other broadly defined offences which further restricted freedom of expression and the right to protest. It also replaced a widely used #colonial-era #sedition law with its own provisions on sedition which now expressly cover acts or speech which do not incite violence. The maximum prison sentence for sedition was increased from two to seven years, or up to 10 years if involving 'collusion with an external force'.
"Amnesty International submitted an analysis of its proposals to the government during the consultation period, concluding that the offences and changes to investigatory powers are contrary to Hong Kong’s human rights obligations. After the law was passed, Amnesty International issued a briefing paper providing an in-depth analysis of the effects of the law on both Chinese and non-Chinese individuals, in particular via its purported extraterritorial application."
Source:
https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2025/03/hong-kong-article-23-law-used-to-normalize-repression-one-year-since-enactment/
#AntiProtestLaws #AntiProtestLaws #CriminalizingDissent #CriminalizingProtest #HumanRightsViolations #BigBrother #NeverForgetTiananmen -
#HongKong: #Article23 law used to ‘normalize’ #repression one year since enactment
Just one year after its passage, Hong Kong’s Article 23 law has further squeezed people’s freedoms and enabled authorities to intensify their #crackdown on peaceful #activism in the city and beyond, #AmnestyInternational said.
" 'Over the past year, Article 23 has been used to entrench a ‘new normal’ of systematic repression of dissent, criminalizing peaceful acts in increasingly absurd ways,' said Amnesty International’s China Director Sarah Brooks.
" 'People have been targeted and harshly punished for the clothes they wear as well as the things they #say and #write, or for minor acts of #protest, intensifying the #ClimateIOfFear that already pervaded Hong Kong. #FreedomOfExpression has never been under greater attack.'
People convicted and jailed for peaceful expression"The Safeguarding National Security Ordinance (known as Article 23) took effect on 23 March 2024. Amnesty International’s analysis shows that 16 people have since been arrested for sedition under Article 23. Five of them were officially charged under the law, and the other 11 were released without charge. None of those arrested is accused of engaging in violence, while the authorities have accused two of them of #inciting violence without yet disclosing any details.
"Three of the charged individuals – after facing around three months’ pre-trial detention – were convicted for, respectively, wearing a T-shirt and #mask printed with protest slogans; #criticizing the government #online; and writing protest #slogans on bus seats. They were sentenced to between 10 and 14 months in prison.
"The remaining two charged people have been held in detention awaiting trial since November 2024 and January 2025, respectively. They are accused of publishing '#seditious' posts on social media platforms.
Article 23 entrenches denial of bail
"The presumption against bail in national security cases, originally imposed by the #Beijing-enacted #NationalSecurityLaw (#NSL), has now been extended to offences under Article 23. Among the five individuals charged under Article 23, the two who applied for bail had their applications denied because the magistrate believed they may 'continue to commit acts endangering national security' – the same reasoning used to deny bail to others prosecuted under the NSL, including newspaper founder #JimmyLai and opposition politicians.
"The remaining 11 individuals arrested under Article 23 are variously accused of publishing 'seditious' posts, commemorating the 1989 #Tiananmen crackdown and spreading 'disinformation'. Despite having been released by the police without official charge, they remain at risk of prosecution at any time because Article 23 does not impose a time limit on bringing criminal charges.
" 'Article 23 has been wielded by the Hong Kong government as a tool to suppress critical voices with the ultimate aim of eradicating them. Alongside the #NSL, it has handed the authorities virtually unchecked power to arrest and jail anybody criticizing the government. The result is a Hong Kong where people are forced to second-guess what they say and write, and even what they wear,' Sarah Brooks said.
" 'The now default use of pre-trial #detention and refusal of bail are alarming examples of how Article 23 has been used to reinforce the repressive tools first introduced under the NSL.”
‘#NationalSecurity’ as a trump card overriding established laws"Article 23 has also been weaponized to impose additional punitive measures against dissidents already serving sentences. Under the existing Prison Rules, last amended in 2014, prisoners with good conduct were eligible for early release after serving two-thirds of their sentences. However, according to new rules set by Article 23, the prison authorities can waive this practice if the release would be 'contrary to the interests of national security'.
"Notably, at least two jailed activists have been denied early release, despite the fact that they were not convicted under Article 23 and had already begun serving their sentences before its enactment.
"One of the activists – who was convicted of incitement to wound, a charge unrelated to any national security legislation – was barred from early release despite Article 23 expressly stating that the new rules apply only to prisoners convicted of offences endangering national security.
" '#Retroactively denying early release based on vague national security justifications undermines legal certainty and due process. The government’s failure to comply with the very text that it drafted further raises serious concerns about the arbitrary application of Article 23,' Sarah Brooks said.
Extraterritorial application against #overseas #activists"The worrying impact of Article 23 on human rights is not restricted to Hong Kong. Authorities have invoked Article 23’s extraterritorial scope to penalize a total of 13 Hong Kong activists residing overseas, including in the #UK, the #US, #Canada and #Australia. These penalties have included the cancellation of passports, suspension of lawyer licenses, removal from company directorships and prohibition of financial transactions, restricting a range of #HumanRights such as their freedom of movement, right to privacy and right to work.
"These measures have been imposed alongside arrest warrants issued under the NSL, each carrying a HK$1 million (US$128,700) bounty, for these 13 individuals and six other overseas activists.
" 'By sanctioning activists overseas, the Hong Kong government is attempting to extend its #DraconianLaws beyond its borders to target potentially anyone, anywhere. The situation has resulted in a chilling effect on individuals who persist in exercising their freedom of expression, even after departing from the city. The international community cannot afford to ignore Article 23’s intended extraterritorial reach,' Sarah Brooks said.
" 'We urge the Hong Kong and Chinese governments to immediately repeal Article 23, the NSL and any other legislation which violates international human rights laws and standards. We also call on other governments to safeguard the fundamental rights and freedoms of #Hongkongers, in particular those actively defending human rights, within their jurisdictions.
" 'The rising risk of transnational repression, which Amnesty has documented and which is explicitly tied to Hong Kong’s national security legislation, demands a response by governments worldwide. As a start, that means denouncing incidents of transnational repression and pursuing accountability for criminal acts targeting activists and others in the country of residence.'
Background
"On 19 March 2024, Hong Kong’s Legislative Council unanimously voted to pass the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance based on Article 23 of the Basic Law, Hong Kong’s mini-constitution.
"The law, which took effect on 23 March 2024, introduced China’s definition of 'national security' and 'state secrets', together with other broadly defined offences which further restricted freedom of expression and the right to protest. It also replaced a widely used #colonial-era #sedition law with its own provisions on sedition which now expressly cover acts or speech which do not incite violence. The maximum prison sentence for sedition was increased from two to seven years, or up to 10 years if involving 'collusion with an external force'.
"Amnesty International submitted an analysis of its proposals to the government during the consultation period, concluding that the offences and changes to investigatory powers are contrary to Hong Kong’s human rights obligations. After the law was passed, Amnesty International issued a briefing paper providing an in-depth analysis of the effects of the law on both Chinese and non-Chinese individuals, in particular via its purported extraterritorial application."
Source:
https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2025/03/hong-kong-article-23-law-used-to-normalize-repression-one-year-since-enactment/
#AntiProtestLaws #AntiProtestLaws #CriminalizingDissent #CriminalizingProtest #HumanRightsViolations #BigBrother #NeverForgetTiananmen -
#HongKong: #Article23 law used to ‘normalize’ #repression one year since enactment
Just one year after its passage, Hong Kong’s Article 23 law has further squeezed people’s freedoms and enabled authorities to intensify their #crackdown on peaceful #activism in the city and beyond, #AmnestyInternational said.
" 'Over the past year, Article 23 has been used to entrench a ‘new normal’ of systematic repression of dissent, criminalizing peaceful acts in increasingly absurd ways,' said Amnesty International’s China Director Sarah Brooks.
" 'People have been targeted and harshly punished for the clothes they wear as well as the things they #say and #write, or for minor acts of #protest, intensifying the #ClimateIOfFear that already pervaded Hong Kong. #FreedomOfExpression has never been under greater attack.'
People convicted and jailed for peaceful expression"The Safeguarding National Security Ordinance (known as Article 23) took effect on 23 March 2024. Amnesty International’s analysis shows that 16 people have since been arrested for sedition under Article 23. Five of them were officially charged under the law, and the other 11 were released without charge. None of those arrested is accused of engaging in violence, while the authorities have accused two of them of #inciting violence without yet disclosing any details.
"Three of the charged individuals – after facing around three months’ pre-trial detention – were convicted for, respectively, wearing a T-shirt and #mask printed with protest slogans; #criticizing the government #online; and writing protest #slogans on bus seats. They were sentenced to between 10 and 14 months in prison.
"The remaining two charged people have been held in detention awaiting trial since November 2024 and January 2025, respectively. They are accused of publishing '#seditious' posts on social media platforms.
Article 23 entrenches denial of bail
"The presumption against bail in national security cases, originally imposed by the #Beijing-enacted #NationalSecurityLaw (#NSL), has now been extended to offences under Article 23. Among the five individuals charged under Article 23, the two who applied for bail had their applications denied because the magistrate believed they may 'continue to commit acts endangering national security' – the same reasoning used to deny bail to others prosecuted under the NSL, including newspaper founder #JimmyLai and opposition politicians.
"The remaining 11 individuals arrested under Article 23 are variously accused of publishing 'seditious' posts, commemorating the 1989 #Tiananmen crackdown and spreading 'disinformation'. Despite having been released by the police without official charge, they remain at risk of prosecution at any time because Article 23 does not impose a time limit on bringing criminal charges.
" 'Article 23 has been wielded by the Hong Kong government as a tool to suppress critical voices with the ultimate aim of eradicating them. Alongside the #NSL, it has handed the authorities virtually unchecked power to arrest and jail anybody criticizing the government. The result is a Hong Kong where people are forced to second-guess what they say and write, and even what they wear,' Sarah Brooks said.
" 'The now default use of pre-trial #detention and refusal of bail are alarming examples of how Article 23 has been used to reinforce the repressive tools first introduced under the NSL.”
‘#NationalSecurity’ as a trump card overriding established laws"Article 23 has also been weaponized to impose additional punitive measures against dissidents already serving sentences. Under the existing Prison Rules, last amended in 2014, prisoners with good conduct were eligible for early release after serving two-thirds of their sentences. However, according to new rules set by Article 23, the prison authorities can waive this practice if the release would be 'contrary to the interests of national security'.
"Notably, at least two jailed activists have been denied early release, despite the fact that they were not convicted under Article 23 and had already begun serving their sentences before its enactment.
"One of the activists – who was convicted of incitement to wound, a charge unrelated to any national security legislation – was barred from early release despite Article 23 expressly stating that the new rules apply only to prisoners convicted of offences endangering national security.
" '#Retroactively denying early release based on vague national security justifications undermines legal certainty and due process. The government’s failure to comply with the very text that it drafted further raises serious concerns about the arbitrary application of Article 23,' Sarah Brooks said.
Extraterritorial application against #overseas #activists"The worrying impact of Article 23 on human rights is not restricted to Hong Kong. Authorities have invoked Article 23’s extraterritorial scope to penalize a total of 13 Hong Kong activists residing overseas, including in the #UK, the #US, #Canada and #Australia. These penalties have included the cancellation of passports, suspension of lawyer licenses, removal from company directorships and prohibition of financial transactions, restricting a range of #HumanRights such as their freedom of movement, right to privacy and right to work.
"These measures have been imposed alongside arrest warrants issued under the NSL, each carrying a HK$1 million (US$128,700) bounty, for these 13 individuals and six other overseas activists.
" 'By sanctioning activists overseas, the Hong Kong government is attempting to extend its #DraconianLaws beyond its borders to target potentially anyone, anywhere. The situation has resulted in a chilling effect on individuals who persist in exercising their freedom of expression, even after departing from the city. The international community cannot afford to ignore Article 23’s intended extraterritorial reach,' Sarah Brooks said.
" 'We urge the Hong Kong and Chinese governments to immediately repeal Article 23, the NSL and any other legislation which violates international human rights laws and standards. We also call on other governments to safeguard the fundamental rights and freedoms of #Hongkongers, in particular those actively defending human rights, within their jurisdictions.
" 'The rising risk of transnational repression, which Amnesty has documented and which is explicitly tied to Hong Kong’s national security legislation, demands a response by governments worldwide. As a start, that means denouncing incidents of transnational repression and pursuing accountability for criminal acts targeting activists and others in the country of residence.'
Background
"On 19 March 2024, Hong Kong’s Legislative Council unanimously voted to pass the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance based on Article 23 of the Basic Law, Hong Kong’s mini-constitution.
"The law, which took effect on 23 March 2024, introduced China’s definition of 'national security' and 'state secrets', together with other broadly defined offences which further restricted freedom of expression and the right to protest. It also replaced a widely used #colonial-era #sedition law with its own provisions on sedition which now expressly cover acts or speech which do not incite violence. The maximum prison sentence for sedition was increased from two to seven years, or up to 10 years if involving 'collusion with an external force'.
"Amnesty International submitted an analysis of its proposals to the government during the consultation period, concluding that the offences and changes to investigatory powers are contrary to Hong Kong’s human rights obligations. After the law was passed, Amnesty International issued a briefing paper providing an in-depth analysis of the effects of the law on both Chinese and non-Chinese individuals, in particular via its purported extraterritorial application."
Source:
https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2025/03/hong-kong-article-23-law-used-to-normalize-repression-one-year-since-enactment/
#AntiProtestLaws #AntiProtestLaws #CriminalizingDissent #CriminalizingProtest #HumanRightsViolations #BigBrother #NeverForgetTiananmen -
#HongKong: #Article23 law used to ‘normalize’ #repression one year since enactment
Just one year after its passage, Hong Kong’s Article 23 law has further squeezed people’s freedoms and enabled authorities to intensify their #crackdown on peaceful #activism in the city and beyond, #AmnestyInternational said.
" 'Over the past year, Article 23 has been used to entrench a ‘new normal’ of systematic repression of dissent, criminalizing peaceful acts in increasingly absurd ways,' said Amnesty International’s China Director Sarah Brooks.
" 'People have been targeted and harshly punished for the clothes they wear as well as the things they #say and #write, or for minor acts of #protest, intensifying the #ClimateIOfFear that already pervaded Hong Kong. #FreedomOfExpression has never been under greater attack.'
People convicted and jailed for peaceful expression"The Safeguarding National Security Ordinance (known as Article 23) took effect on 23 March 2024. Amnesty International’s analysis shows that 16 people have since been arrested for sedition under Article 23. Five of them were officially charged under the law, and the other 11 were released without charge. None of those arrested is accused of engaging in violence, while the authorities have accused two of them of #inciting violence without yet disclosing any details.
"Three of the charged individuals – after facing around three months’ pre-trial detention – were convicted for, respectively, wearing a T-shirt and #mask printed with protest slogans; #criticizing the government #online; and writing protest #slogans on bus seats. They were sentenced to between 10 and 14 months in prison.
"The remaining two charged people have been held in detention awaiting trial since November 2024 and January 2025, respectively. They are accused of publishing '#seditious' posts on social media platforms.
Article 23 entrenches denial of bail
"The presumption against bail in national security cases, originally imposed by the #Beijing-enacted #NationalSecurityLaw (#NSL), has now been extended to offences under Article 23. Among the five individuals charged under Article 23, the two who applied for bail had their applications denied because the magistrate believed they may 'continue to commit acts endangering national security' – the same reasoning used to deny bail to others prosecuted under the NSL, including newspaper founder #JimmyLai and opposition politicians.
"The remaining 11 individuals arrested under Article 23 are variously accused of publishing 'seditious' posts, commemorating the 1989 #Tiananmen crackdown and spreading 'disinformation'. Despite having been released by the police without official charge, they remain at risk of prosecution at any time because Article 23 does not impose a time limit on bringing criminal charges.
" 'Article 23 has been wielded by the Hong Kong government as a tool to suppress critical voices with the ultimate aim of eradicating them. Alongside the #NSL, it has handed the authorities virtually unchecked power to arrest and jail anybody criticizing the government. The result is a Hong Kong where people are forced to second-guess what they say and write, and even what they wear,' Sarah Brooks said.
" 'The now default use of pre-trial #detention and refusal of bail are alarming examples of how Article 23 has been used to reinforce the repressive tools first introduced under the NSL.”
‘#NationalSecurity’ as a trump card overriding established laws"Article 23 has also been weaponized to impose additional punitive measures against dissidents already serving sentences. Under the existing Prison Rules, last amended in 2014, prisoners with good conduct were eligible for early release after serving two-thirds of their sentences. However, according to new rules set by Article 23, the prison authorities can waive this practice if the release would be 'contrary to the interests of national security'.
"Notably, at least two jailed activists have been denied early release, despite the fact that they were not convicted under Article 23 and had already begun serving their sentences before its enactment.
"One of the activists – who was convicted of incitement to wound, a charge unrelated to any national security legislation – was barred from early release despite Article 23 expressly stating that the new rules apply only to prisoners convicted of offences endangering national security.
" '#Retroactively denying early release based on vague national security justifications undermines legal certainty and due process. The government’s failure to comply with the very text that it drafted further raises serious concerns about the arbitrary application of Article 23,' Sarah Brooks said.
Extraterritorial application against #overseas #activists"The worrying impact of Article 23 on human rights is not restricted to Hong Kong. Authorities have invoked Article 23’s extraterritorial scope to penalize a total of 13 Hong Kong activists residing overseas, including in the #UK, the #US, #Canada and #Australia. These penalties have included the cancellation of passports, suspension of lawyer licenses, removal from company directorships and prohibition of financial transactions, restricting a range of #HumanRights such as their freedom of movement, right to privacy and right to work.
"These measures have been imposed alongside arrest warrants issued under the NSL, each carrying a HK$1 million (US$128,700) bounty, for these 13 individuals and six other overseas activists.
" 'By sanctioning activists overseas, the Hong Kong government is attempting to extend its #DraconianLaws beyond its borders to target potentially anyone, anywhere. The situation has resulted in a chilling effect on individuals who persist in exercising their freedom of expression, even after departing from the city. The international community cannot afford to ignore Article 23’s intended extraterritorial reach,' Sarah Brooks said.
" 'We urge the Hong Kong and Chinese governments to immediately repeal Article 23, the NSL and any other legislation which violates international human rights laws and standards. We also call on other governments to safeguard the fundamental rights and freedoms of #Hongkongers, in particular those actively defending human rights, within their jurisdictions.
" 'The rising risk of transnational repression, which Amnesty has documented and which is explicitly tied to Hong Kong’s national security legislation, demands a response by governments worldwide. As a start, that means denouncing incidents of transnational repression and pursuing accountability for criminal acts targeting activists and others in the country of residence.'
Background
"On 19 March 2024, Hong Kong’s Legislative Council unanimously voted to pass the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance based on Article 23 of the Basic Law, Hong Kong’s mini-constitution.
"The law, which took effect on 23 March 2024, introduced China’s definition of 'national security' and 'state secrets', together with other broadly defined offences which further restricted freedom of expression and the right to protest. It also replaced a widely used #colonial-era #sedition law with its own provisions on sedition which now expressly cover acts or speech which do not incite violence. The maximum prison sentence for sedition was increased from two to seven years, or up to 10 years if involving 'collusion with an external force'.
"Amnesty International submitted an analysis of its proposals to the government during the consultation period, concluding that the offences and changes to investigatory powers are contrary to Hong Kong’s human rights obligations. After the law was passed, Amnesty International issued a briefing paper providing an in-depth analysis of the effects of the law on both Chinese and non-Chinese individuals, in particular via its purported extraterritorial application."
Source:
https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2025/03/hong-kong-article-23-law-used-to-normalize-repression-one-year-since-enactment/
#AntiProtestLaws #AntiProtestLaws #CriminalizingDissent #CriminalizingProtest #HumanRightsViolations #BigBrother #NeverForgetTiananmen -
#HongKong: #Article23 law used to ‘normalize’ #repression one year since enactment
Just one year after its passage, Hong Kong’s Article 23 law has further squeezed people’s freedoms and enabled authorities to intensify their #crackdown on peaceful #activism in the city and beyond, #AmnestyInternational said.
" 'Over the past year, Article 23 has been used to entrench a ‘new normal’ of systematic repression of dissent, criminalizing peaceful acts in increasingly absurd ways,' said Amnesty International’s China Director Sarah Brooks.
" 'People have been targeted and harshly punished for the clothes they wear as well as the things they #say and #write, or for minor acts of #protest, intensifying the #ClimateIOfFear that already pervaded Hong Kong. #FreedomOfExpression has never been under greater attack.'
People convicted and jailed for peaceful expression"The Safeguarding National Security Ordinance (known as Article 23) took effect on 23 March 2024. Amnesty International’s analysis shows that 16 people have since been arrested for sedition under Article 23. Five of them were officially charged under the law, and the other 11 were released without charge. None of those arrested is accused of engaging in violence, while the authorities have accused two of them of #inciting violence without yet disclosing any details.
"Three of the charged individuals – after facing around three months’ pre-trial detention – were convicted for, respectively, wearing a T-shirt and #mask printed with protest slogans; #criticizing the government #online; and writing protest #slogans on bus seats. They were sentenced to between 10 and 14 months in prison.
"The remaining two charged people have been held in detention awaiting trial since November 2024 and January 2025, respectively. They are accused of publishing '#seditious' posts on social media platforms.
Article 23 entrenches denial of bail
"The presumption against bail in national security cases, originally imposed by the #Beijing-enacted #NationalSecurityLaw (#NSL), has now been extended to offences under Article 23. Among the five individuals charged under Article 23, the two who applied for bail had their applications denied because the magistrate believed they may 'continue to commit acts endangering national security' – the same reasoning used to deny bail to others prosecuted under the NSL, including newspaper founder #JimmyLai and opposition politicians.
"The remaining 11 individuals arrested under Article 23 are variously accused of publishing 'seditious' posts, commemorating the 1989 #Tiananmen crackdown and spreading 'disinformation'. Despite having been released by the police without official charge, they remain at risk of prosecution at any time because Article 23 does not impose a time limit on bringing criminal charges.
" 'Article 23 has been wielded by the Hong Kong government as a tool to suppress critical voices with the ultimate aim of eradicating them. Alongside the #NSL, it has handed the authorities virtually unchecked power to arrest and jail anybody criticizing the government. The result is a Hong Kong where people are forced to second-guess what they say and write, and even what they wear,' Sarah Brooks said.
" 'The now default use of pre-trial #detention and refusal of bail are alarming examples of how Article 23 has been used to reinforce the repressive tools first introduced under the NSL.”
‘#NationalSecurity’ as a trump card overriding established laws"Article 23 has also been weaponized to impose additional punitive measures against dissidents already serving sentences. Under the existing Prison Rules, last amended in 2014, prisoners with good conduct were eligible for early release after serving two-thirds of their sentences. However, according to new rules set by Article 23, the prison authorities can waive this practice if the release would be 'contrary to the interests of national security'.
"Notably, at least two jailed activists have been denied early release, despite the fact that they were not convicted under Article 23 and had already begun serving their sentences before its enactment.
"One of the activists – who was convicted of incitement to wound, a charge unrelated to any national security legislation – was barred from early release despite Article 23 expressly stating that the new rules apply only to prisoners convicted of offences endangering national security.
" '#Retroactively denying early release based on vague national security justifications undermines legal certainty and due process. The government’s failure to comply with the very text that it drafted further raises serious concerns about the arbitrary application of Article 23,' Sarah Brooks said.
Extraterritorial application against #overseas #activists"The worrying impact of Article 23 on human rights is not restricted to Hong Kong. Authorities have invoked Article 23’s extraterritorial scope to penalize a total of 13 Hong Kong activists residing overseas, including in the #UK, the #US, #Canada and #Australia. These penalties have included the cancellation of passports, suspension of lawyer licenses, removal from company directorships and prohibition of financial transactions, restricting a range of #HumanRights such as their freedom of movement, right to privacy and right to work.
"These measures have been imposed alongside arrest warrants issued under the NSL, each carrying a HK$1 million (US$128,700) bounty, for these 13 individuals and six other overseas activists.
" 'By sanctioning activists overseas, the Hong Kong government is attempting to extend its #DraconianLaws beyond its borders to target potentially anyone, anywhere. The situation has resulted in a chilling effect on individuals who persist in exercising their freedom of expression, even after departing from the city. The international community cannot afford to ignore Article 23’s intended extraterritorial reach,' Sarah Brooks said.
" 'We urge the Hong Kong and Chinese governments to immediately repeal Article 23, the NSL and any other legislation which violates international human rights laws and standards. We also call on other governments to safeguard the fundamental rights and freedoms of #Hongkongers, in particular those actively defending human rights, within their jurisdictions.
" 'The rising risk of transnational repression, which Amnesty has documented and which is explicitly tied to Hong Kong’s national security legislation, demands a response by governments worldwide. As a start, that means denouncing incidents of transnational repression and pursuing accountability for criminal acts targeting activists and others in the country of residence.'
Background
"On 19 March 2024, Hong Kong’s Legislative Council unanimously voted to pass the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance based on Article 23 of the Basic Law, Hong Kong’s mini-constitution.
"The law, which took effect on 23 March 2024, introduced China’s definition of 'national security' and 'state secrets', together with other broadly defined offences which further restricted freedom of expression and the right to protest. It also replaced a widely used #colonial-era #sedition law with its own provisions on sedition which now expressly cover acts or speech which do not incite violence. The maximum prison sentence for sedition was increased from two to seven years, or up to 10 years if involving 'collusion with an external force'.
"Amnesty International submitted an analysis of its proposals to the government during the consultation period, concluding that the offences and changes to investigatory powers are contrary to Hong Kong’s human rights obligations. After the law was passed, Amnesty International issued a briefing paper providing an in-depth analysis of the effects of the law on both Chinese and non-Chinese individuals, in particular via its purported extraterritorial application."
Source:
https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2025/03/hong-kong-article-23-law-used-to-normalize-repression-one-year-since-enactment/
#AntiProtestLaws #AntiProtestLaws #CriminalizingDissent #CriminalizingProtest #HumanRightsViolations #BigBrother #NeverForgetTiananmen -
#TNI #TransnationalInstitute is a group that mostly releases great reports, analysis, etc, on #techgiants, #capitalism #resourcecolonialism #labor etc
But when it comes to #China, they'll somehow willingly publish pro-CCP propaganda-lite, factually dubious BS like this, romanticizing the #Mao era, regurgitating South-South solidarity talk points & of course, ignoring the #CCP's glaring similarities to Israel in its treatment of #Uyghurs #Tibetans & #HongKongers
https://www.tni.org/en/article/from-global-anti-imperialism-to-the-dandelion-fighters
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#TNI #TransnationalInstitute is a group that mostly releases great reports, analysis, etc, on #techgiants, #capitalism #resourcecolonialism #labor etc
But when it comes to #China, they'll somehow willingly publish pro-CCP propaganda-lite, factually dubious BS like this, romanticizing the #Mao era, regurgitating South-South solidarity talk points & of course, ignoring the #CCP's glaring similarities to Israel in its treatment of #Uyghurs #Tibetans & #HongKongers
https://www.tni.org/en/article/from-global-anti-imperialism-to-the-dandelion-fighters
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#TNI #TransnationalInstitute is a group that mostly releases great reports, analysis, etc, on #techgiants, #capitalism #resourcecolonialism #labor etc
But when it comes to #China, they'll somehow willingly publish pro-CCP propaganda-lite, factually dubious BS like this, romanticizing the #Mao era, regurgitating South-South solidarity talk points & of course, ignoring the #CCP's glaring similarities to Israel in its treatment of #Uyghurs #Tibetans & #HongKongers
https://www.tni.org/en/article/from-global-anti-imperialism-to-the-dandelion-fighters
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#TNI #TransnationalInstitute is a group that mostly releases great reports, analysis, etc, on #techgiants, #capitalism #resourcecolonialism #labor etc
But when it comes to #China, they'll somehow willingly publish pro-CCP propaganda-lite, factually dubious BS like this, romanticizing the #Mao era, regurgitating South-South solidarity talk points & of course, ignoring the #CCP's glaring similarities to Israel in its treatment of #Uyghurs #Tibetans & #HongKongers
https://www.tni.org/en/article/from-global-anti-imperialism-to-the-dandelion-fighters
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#TNI #TransnationalInstitute is a group that mostly releases great reports, analysis, etc, on #techgiants, #capitalism #resourcecolonialism #labor etc
But when it comes to #China, they'll somehow willingly publish pro-CCP propaganda-lite, factually dubious BS like this, romanticizing the #Mao era, regurgitating South-South solidarity talk points & of course, ignoring the #CCP's glaring similarities to Israel in its treatment of #Uyghurs #Tibetans & #HongKongers
https://www.tni.org/en/article/from-global-anti-imperialism-to-the-dandelion-fighters
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My Take | The UK should do more to tap into the talent Hongkongers offer https://www.byteseu.com/601423/ #BritishEmployers #BritishFuture #BritishNational(Overseas) #CostOfLivingCrisis #EconomicEnvironment #GreatBritain #HongKong #Hongkongers #Inflation #LabourGovernment #NationalSecurityLaw #PubliclyFundedServices #survey #UnitedKingdom #VisaScheme #WelcomingCommitteeForHongkongers #WorkExperience
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#HongKongers: today is my last day as Chief Executive of @hk_watch, but it's definitely not my last day fighting for #HongKong. I'll continue the fight and will always #StandWithHongKong Here's my message to you, in my own hand and from my heart 👇 -
#HongKongers: today is my last day as Chief Executive of @hk_watch, but it's definitely not my last day fighting for #HongKong. I'll continue the fight and will always #StandWithHongKong Here's my message to you, in my own hand and from my heart 👇 -
https://www.facebook.com/share/g8M87ThqtBiVexKG/?mibextid=WC7FNe
Thank you very much for organising and participating in this event on all the CCP Chinese government’s brainwashing education policies against #Tibetans, #Uyghurs, #SouthernMongolians, #HongKongers and #Chinese.
Here’s my speech: https://patrickpoon.medium.com/speech-delivered-at-the-university-of-tokyo-on-21-july-2024-ec7d4e268364 -
Saw someone on LinkedIn being proud of being cited, twice, in the People's Daily, a #Chinese propaganda outlet.
A few posts down, was someone who was also mentioned in that same #CCP outlet, except that person was the target of numerous attacks and disinformation spread via Chinese state media - for his work documenting human rights crimes against #HongKongers, #Uyghurs, and exposing #China's secret overseas police stations.
You can guess which person, I think, is more worthy of praise.
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Strange headline. #HongKong doesn't want them and #HongKongers definitely don't - it is #China's #XiJinping #CCP regime and its quislings that do Explainer: Why Hong Kong wants new national security laws https://www.reuters.com/world/china/why-hong-kong-wants-new-national-security-laws-2024-01-30/ https://nitter.hongkongers.net/benedictrogers/status/1752312363242381411#m
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In 2022 #HongKongers campaigned for months to get @smithsonian's @NatAsianArt to stop taking HKETO money for a film fest. Now it's taking Chinese embassy money for Lunar New Year. @smithsonian & @NatAsianArt must stop associating with the CCP dictatorship. https://www.si.edu/newsdesk/releases/national-museum-asian-art-announces-its-2024-lunar-new-year-family-festival https://nitter.hongkongers.net/hkdc_us/status/1750905820441665823#m
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Thank you @AndrewRosindell for raising the issue of #HongKongers continuing to be denied up to £2.2bn worth of their hard-earned pensions savings from #MPF providers including UK-headquartered @HSBC and @StanChart. https://nitter.hongkongers.net/hk_watch/status/1750900423521628365#m
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@hk_watch RT by @benedictrogers: Thank you @FabianLeedsNE for raising the issue of @HSBC and @StanChart continuing to deny #HongKongers with #BNO passports up to £2.2bn worth of their hard-earned pensions savings. https://nitter.hongkongers.net/hk_watch/status/1750539296497430843#m
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Thank you @FabianLeedsNE for raising the issue of @HSBC and @StanChart continuing to deny #HongKongers with #BNO passports up to £2.2bn worth of their hard-earned pensions savings. https://nitter.hongkongers.net/hk_watch/status/1750539296497430843#m
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Fantastic to hear #HongKong's anthem "Glory to Hong Kong" and "Do You Hear the People Sing?" on this famous piano in King's Cross/St Pancras Next time #HongKongers plan to play piano for freedom there, let me know, and if I'm free I'll come and support you #FreeHK #FreeJimmyLai https://nitter.hongkongers.net/benedictrogers/status/1750328609791697075#m
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R to @hk_watch: Thank you @lynbrownmp for expressing your support of #HongKongers in 🇬🇧 who have bounties on their heads for simply advocating for democracy. https://nitter.hongkongers.net/hk_watch/status/1750229787128299781#m
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R to @hk_watch: .@SarahOwen_ also condemned #CCP interference in 🇬🇧 universities, as well as intimidation tactics against #HongKongers and others who challenge CCP policies. https://nitter.hongkongers.net/hk_watch/status/1750229784867590201#m
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R to @hk_watch: HKW Patron @CatherineWest1 asked what assessment >@FCDOGovUK has made of the bounties placed on #HongKongers in Britain and around the world. https://nitter.hongkongers.net/hk_watch/status/1750153629229527132#m
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🧵 @hk_watch spent the past couple days with #HongKongers and advocates from across the 🇪🇺 to meet with MEPs to: 1️⃣ Call for the repeal of the remaining extradition treaties between EU member states and the People's Republic of China and #HongKong. https://nitter.hongkongers.net/hk_watch/status/1749888451015491745#m
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I love working with my @hk_watch colleagues and am so proud of their passion, wisdom, skills & capacity Thrilled that my friend & colleague @megan_khoo has spent past few days with #HongKongers advocating at the 🇪🇺 institutions in Brussels 👇 Busy on all fronts - for #HongKong https://nitter.hongkongers.net/benedictrogers/status/1749889130324975618#m
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A pleasure to meet today with former Home Secretary @pritipatel, alongside my @hk_watch colleague Thomas Benson, to discuss #HongKong & needs of #HongKongers Dame Priti introduced, pioneered & championed the BNO scheme & I am deeply grateful for her continued support for #HKers https://nitter.hongkongers.net/benedictrogers/status/1749500999759257923#m
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An excellent article on #HongKongers in 🇬🇧 Thank you @TomHCalver @thetimes and thank you @lumli_lumlong 👇 https://nitter.hongkongers.net/benedictrogers/status/1749026176419410140#m
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@globalvoices
Your post and headline still read "‘I am #Taiwanese 🇳🇫 now’: #Hongkongers 🇭🇰 who have moved to the democratic island cherish their right to vote."Here's how to fix it:
❝‘I am Taiwanese now’: Hongkongers who have moved to the democratic [#country] cherish their right to vote❞ -
@hk_watch RT by @benedictrogers: Thank you @CatherineWest1, one of our patrons, for raising the issue of British banks including @HSBC_UK withholding £2.2 billion worth of #HongKongers' pensions savings with >@FCDOGovUK👇 https://nitter.hongkongers.net/hk_watch/status/1747198829667983810#m
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Thank you @CatherineWest1, one of our patrons, for raising the issue of British banks including @HSBC_UK withholding £2.2 billion worth of #HongKongers' pensions savings with >@FCDOGovUK👇 https://nitter.hongkongers.net/hk_watch/status/1747198829667983810#m
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An important article by @llggeorgia We need to do more to help #HongKongers seeking asylum, who don't qualify for BNO Georgia L Gilholy: Behind the Government’s warm words, the Home Office is failing Hong Kongers https://conservativehome.com/2024/01/12/georgia-l-gilholy-behind-the-governments-warm-words-the-home-office-is-failing-hong-kongers/ via @conhome https://nitter.hongkongers.net/benedictrogers/status/1745731597813318017#m
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Important move by @Billbrowder It's vital that Interpol does not allow China to use politically motivated Red Notices against Bill, @lukedepulford or other "co-conspirators", myself or other "collaborators", or indeed any exiled #HongKongers threatened with arrest warrants https://nitter.hongkongers.net/benedictrogers/status/1745727158486544432#m
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Delighted to host @hk_watch's civic and political education event for #HongKongers in Wimbledon tonight I enjoyed chairing the discussion with three excellent local councillors - @nick_cannonhill @eleanorSW19 and @PaulKohlerSW19 - about how #HKers can engage with UK democracy https://nitter.hongkongers.net/benedictrogers/status/1745570804207690165#m
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R to @benedictrogers: You can read more, both about my experiences in #China and #HongKong, and much more importantly about the suffering of Chinese dissidents, #HongKongers, #Uyghurs, #Tibetans and the threats to #Taiwan, in my book #TheChinaNexus, published by @opibooks https://nitter.hongkongers.net/benedictrogers/status/1742099052592873800#m
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Dear #HongKongers - in #HongKong and around the world: I wish you a #HappyNewYear and pray that 2024 will see breakthroughs, positive news, better times Here is my personal #NewYear2024 message, written in my own hand and from my heart 👇❤️🙏 #FightForFreedom #StandWithHongKong https://nitter.hongkongers.net/benedictrogers/status/1741585623486431687#m
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Dear #HongKongers - in #HongKong and around the world: I wish you a #HappyNewYear and pray that 2024 will see breakthroughs, positive news, better times Here is my personal #NewYear2024 message, written in my own hand and from my heart 👇❤️🙏 #FightForFreedom #StandWithHongKong https://nitter.hongkongers.net/benedictrogers/status/1741585623486431687#m
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Dear #HongKongers - in #HongKong and around the world: I wish you a #HappyNewYear and pray that 2024 will see breakthroughs, positive news, better times Here is my personal #NewYear2024 message, written in my own hand and from my heart 👇❤️🙏 #FightForFreedom #StandWithHongKong https://nitter.hongkongers.net/benedictrogers/status/1741585623486431687#m
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Dear #HongKongers - in #HongKong and around the world: I wish you a #HappyNewYear and pray that 2024 will see breakthroughs, positive news, better times Here is my personal #NewYear2024 message, written in my own hand and from my heart 👇❤️🙏 #FightForFreedom #StandWithHongKong https://nitter.hongkongers.net/benedictrogers/status/1741585623486431687#m